Composite constructed floating submersible water supply pump

Abstract

The disclosure describes the improvement of mobile floating submersible pump systems where such systems are used for rapid deployment water transfer. Such systems are deployed within industrial fire fighting, flood control operations (FIG. 7) and similar water transfer requirements. A floating submersible pump is designed to separate the power system (FIG. 7, item 11), such as a diesel engine, from the pump body (FIG. 7, item 16), which further enables the operator to deploy a pumping system where traditional ground based centrifugal pumps are unable to physically siphon the water. Floating submersible pump systems are cumbersome in nature, requiring heavy equipment and significant manpower to deploy them. The innovation disclosed uses advancements in structural fiber reinforced materials to drastically reduce the weight of such systems, which removes the need for heavy deployment equipment, with the added benefit of corrosion protection from saline environments through the use of chemically inert composites.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Municipal and emergency water requirements are frequently mismatched with improper sourcing equipment for rapid deployment and delivery of high-volume water. For example, a typical firetruck is incapable of drafting (i.e. siphoning) water from an open water source (such as a lake or pond) much more than 10 feet below its pump's center-line. This is a common problem of all pumps (most notably centrifugal) as water begins to vaporize within the pump intake under extended suction ranges, causing severe cavitation damage. This is governed by the Net Positive Suction Head Principle; the difference between the pump suction head pressure and the pumping medium vapor pressure at a given operating temperature. Fixed pumping systems, such as that found within a building or refinery, use flooded intakes (often further pressurized by municipal water mains) that alleviate this problem. Additionally, a fire truck may have access to a pressurized hydrant system pro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a water supply pump that is made up of a strong and durable casing and impeller. The pump is made from a composite material that is very lightweight and strong, eliminating corrosion and pitting caused by silted water. The composite casing is reinforced with fiber materials like glass or carbon, and the impeller is made from an isotropic fiber reinforced composite. This design allows for easy and rapid deployment in high-volume water systems.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, aluminum body pumps suffer from galvanic corrosion (without the use of sacrificial anodes) and pitting from highly silted shallow water.

Moreover, coating technologies, like hard-coat anodization and polyester powdercoating, are stripped from the aluminum surface during pumping operations because of the abrasive qualities of such heavily silted waters.

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